A D.U.I. Charge and the Road Ahead

D.U.I. You may have heard this phrase before, but what does it mean? To many, it means a lot of things¬. It could mean the loss of your driver's license, civil fines or jail time. Its official meaning? Driving under the influence.

Depending on the jurisdiction, this criminal offense may also be referred to as driving while intoxicated (DWI), driving while impaired (also DWI), operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) or operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OMVI).

DUI charges are usually based on a person's BAC or blood alcohol concentration and may be determined by the administering of a breath test, blood or urine test (which is usually conducted if drugs are suspected).